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For Perry, being governor has perks

The lines between friendship, politics and state business sometimes seem to blur for Perry. |
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“Gov. Perry publicly discloses all gifts and travel in his campaign and personal financial disclosure statements in full compliance with the law,” said spokeswoman Catherine Frazier.

Frazier cast Perry’s ability to tap private cash for his trips, in particular, as a good deal for the state, pointing out “Tax dollars very rarely pay for his travel. In the vast majority of cases, official, economic development and campaign travel are covered by privately raised campaign or economic development funds.”

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And Perry’s allies argue that personal gifts to the governor stem from long-standing personal relationships rather than a desire to win favorable treatment from the state.

Under Texas ethics rules, Perry and his family are allowed to accept personal gifts of unlimited value, and the state’s election laws are among the loosest in the country.

Though the law technically prohibits the conversion of campaign cash to “personal use,” it allow campaigns to accept unlimited contributions from individuals and political committees, and to spend the cash with few restrictions. In the past, Texas politicians have used campaign cash for apartment rent and baseball tickets for themselves, among other expenditures that appear more personal than political.

Texas also places some legal restrictions on travel funded by lobbyists or corporations that employ them. But Perry has accepted tens of thousands of dollars in travel funded by such corporations through a privately funded economic development nonprofit called TexasOne with an annual budget of more than $2 million, that has flown him and his family around the world in the name of recruiting business to Texas.

Frazier said Perry’s “working, living and travel arrangements are commensurate with other governors around the nation.” But elected officials in other states are subject to tighter restrictions on the types and values of gifts and travel they can accept (several states cap the value of gifts that can be accepted at $250 or less), as well as spending their campaign cash.

Perry in some ways is uniquely positioned to receive and accept such gifts and big campaign checks, not only because of Texas’s looser rules but also because of his long tenure as governor of a state with a high concentration of conservative money.

He also has a lot of friends.

Famed Houston bootmaker Rocky Carroll, who has given Perry at least 10 pairs of custom boots since 1991, according to Perry’s personal financial disclosure statements filed with the state, (and who told POLITICO he is now working on a pair with the presidential seal for Perry), said he expects nothing in return. He treats Perry to boots which start at $500 a pair for paying customers because “he’s a friend of mine. Been a friend for 20 years, ever since he was agriculture commissioner,” said Carroll.

“I consider (Perry) a close friend and a great American,” said Lanny Vinson, a Perry college buddy from their days together at Texas A&M University, who provided the governor hunting expeditions, and transportation to and from them, in 2008 and 2009, but declined to say why Perry didn’t pay for the trips himself.

Mr. Perry's perks over 11 years as the successful governor of Texas pale in comparison to the cost funded by US taxpayers just for Michelle Obama vacation to Spain, not to mention all the other vacations (separate flights to the Vineyard 2 hours apart),jaunts for Broadway dinner and a show, and on and on and on.

Perry's got gifts from constituents, they made the conscious decision to do so. Taxpayers have no say in Barry and Michelle's largesse, they have the pathological sense of entitlement.

But I'm willing to bet they don't include taxpayer-funded multi-million dollar vacations every month in the middle of a recession when millions are people are losing their jobs, their houses and their life savings.

I bet he doesn't get to bring hundreds of his closest friends on vacations to foreign countries, buying up entire luxury hotels for his entourage, all done with taxpayer funds.

I'll bet he's not to be found on the golf course every weekend putting in a couple of rounds - funded again by the taxpayers.

And I'll bet he doesn't have weekly star-studded hoedowns in the state house featuring singers talking about killing cops.

Does all this remind you of someone you may know?

With a "leader" like this, it's no wonder the Democrats are losing everywhere you look.

One of Perry's perks involves not working at the office for which he was elected. Before he decided to run for president, he worked an average of 7 hours a week. Now, as he flits about the country, Texas burns.

I have no doubt that everyone is going to recognize this story for what it is - just another in a long line of stories designed to tear down Republican candidates being presented by a very partisan, left-wing mainstream press.

The smallest fault or perk or point of attack on a Republican candidate will be repeatedly blown up into major stories.

Meantime, the massive failures of Obama will be covered up, blamed on others, or simply not reported. His radical background will be kept under wraps - as it has been since he appeared on the national scene.

Another vicious unwarranted liberal hit job. Continue to fight the good fight Governor, for (fetal) life, lower taxes, less regulation, smaller government, Texas style justic and freedom! You knew this was coming from the liberal smear machine, Governor. Barry will have nowhere to run and hide Governor and the patriots out there will see you through in the end. Again, how awesome of a right wing talker would I be?

Perry is clearly bought and paid for. He's another corrupt pay-to-play or quid pro quo politician. As the Tatum O'Neil character says in the movie Paper Moon, "No, I don't know what scruples are, but if you got 'em, you can sure bet they belong to somebody else!" Perry is one of those guys who expects the material world to be lavished on him and his and doesn't lose a wink of sleep over it. This is the same guy who can slash school programs and aid to the poor and approve executions of hundreds also without losing a wink of sleep over it. No wonder Perry is salivating over the possibility of becoming president; his slimy hip-deep Texan corruption is child's play in the mud compared to the major league quid pro quo corruption he can anticipate in D.C. as president. It's Bush/Cheney/Halliburton déjà vu.

But will Perry's absence of ethical public service be an obstacle for him in this political cycle? We know RINO Romney will do his best to make political hay from these revelations, but I'm not sure most Republicans really care that much about ethical behavior in their leaders. Look at Boehner, Cantor, McCarthy and McConnell in D.C.; if Republicans aren't up in arms over their reprehensible economic terrorism, hostage-taking, and extortionist shenanigans, then why would they protest Perry's sliminess?

I think you have the Obamas and the Bushs confused. Bush paid more to play golf and play rancher than Obama has spent for everything they have done since taking office, look it up in the public records.

You must be talking about Barry Soetoro, I agree. What president has ever accepted free perks like paid-for (by donors) extended vacations at Martha's Vineyard? That would be illegal for him to do...right? However, it is legal in Texas. What's your point?

I think you have the Obamas and the Bushs confused. Bush paid more to play golf and play rancher than Obama has spent for everything they have done since taking office, look it up in the public records.

I think you are right, Bush pays his way, Barry doesn't. We, the taxpayers pay for the Obamas...date nights in New York, extended vacations all over the earth, etc. Good point.

Mr. Perry's perks over 11 years as the successful governor of Texas pale in comparison to the cost funded by US taxpayers just for Michelle Obama vacation to Spain, not to mention all the other vacations (separate flights to the Vineyard 2 hours apart),jaunts for Broadway dinner and a show, and on and on and on.

Perry's got gifts from constituents, they made the conscious decision to do so. Taxpayers have no say in Barry and Michelle's largesse, they have the pathological sense of entitlement.

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GWBush had TWICE the number of vacation days in this point in his administration.